Why Electric Cars Are Cleaner

Critics say electric cars just have “longer tailpipes,” but in fact these vehicles produce less overall pollution than most other cars.

The new, all-electric Nissan Leaf is expected to go on sale nationwide by the end of 2011.

PHOTO: NISSAN

These numbers represent the estimated pounds of CO2 emitted per year for a typical electric car driven in each region. Even an electric car in the “worst” region yields cleaner emissions than a typical conventional gas car, whose CO2 emissions do not vary by region. The calculations assume 12,000 miles driven annually (a typical year’s worth of driving), and the emissions figure for gas-only cars assumes a fuel efficiency of 25 mpg. The Nissan Leaf’s on-road efficiency serves as a representative value because the Leaf best represents the mainstream electric-car market at this time.

An electric car driven in California emits less greenhouse gas pollution than an electric car driven in any other region of the country thanks renewable energy electricity sources like this solar field in the California desert.

ISTOCKPHOTO

Toyota’s small, electric commuter car, the FT-EV II, is still in its concept stage as of early 2011.

TOYOTA

Electric motors, such as this one in the Nissan Leaf, are far more efficient than gas engines.

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